Today is a milestone for me.
During college, I had an idea for a website and stumbled across WordPress. I began to tinker. I fell more in love with the method for making the site than the site itself.
I went on after college to work as an outside Sales Engineer. I worked for a great company, and enjoyed the work and my time there. But I realized at some point that it wasn’t the career for me for the next thirty+ years.
I slowly became more involved in WordPress development. I spent my free time making hobby sites, wedding websites for friends, tinkering with themes and generally just messing around. I learned a ton.
In September of last year, I started to write about WordPress too. I started investing time in learning best practices, following prominent community members, respected companies, and generally inhaling as much information as possible. I was addicted. I AM addicted. I wrote basic tutorials and beginner’s guides. I wrote about community news. I got to know people. I got to know WordPress.
My hobby evolved to a point that I felt it was a career I wanted to pursue. Between my desire to be in Birmingham more and travelling less, and my growing sureness that my hobby was something I would enjoy full time, the next step started to become more clear.
By “next step”, I basically mean leaving my job and doing web development. HOW to do that web development was not clear at all. Do I freelance full time? Apply for a position at a firm? Create a product? I had no idea.
And then while not attempting to look at all, the answer fell in front of my face. I saw an advertisement for a well respected Birmingham web design firm that was looking for a “WordPress guru” in Birmingham. I felt obliged to at least send an email.
One week later I was offered a job. Today is my first day at Infomedia.
Leaving my other job was not easy. I was fairly comfortable, worked with great people and for an extraordinarily good company. But sometimes you just know it’s right.
I cannot thank some people enough:
- The Lord. He is good.
- My wife for believing in me and supporting me in all of my decisions.
- My family for support and encouragement.
- The WordPress community for offering such a plethora of knowledge via many venues.
I won’t lie and say I’m not nervous. I’m nervous for certain, but hopefully in a good way. I’m excited for a new journey. I’m ready to turn a passion into my career. I’m ready to further my learning.
I’m ready to work with WordPress full time.
Kudos Brian and good luck with your new job!
Thanks for the well wishes, Joost. The resources you provide are literally my only source for SEO knowledge : )
Enjoy the new day job Brian, if you want to call it a job? 😉
Thanks, Mark! After two days, it sure seems strange to call it that!
Brian – we are all super excited to have you at infomedia! I am looking forward to meeting you on Monday when I get back in the office.
One piece of advice as you start – do not touch Christy’s iPhone coaster as she is super sensitive about them being rearranged. Oh, you know what – go ahead and rearrange them, it will help create more stress in her life 🙂
Thanks, Jeff. I’m happy to be on board! I might wait a couple days before I start office antics, but not too long ; )
That’s fantastic news. Congratulations!
Thanks, Bill! I’m extremely excited.
Congrats! Let the party start 🙂
Thanks, Christian! Let the party start indeed ; )
Congrats Brian and good luck! I know you’ll do awesome!
Congratulations on the new job, Brian! I just discovered your site, thanks to Joost. I’ll drop a line from time to time, if you don’t mind.
thanks you